The Stormers conceded two yellow cards but staved off a Sharks comeback at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday to extend their unbeaten streak at home and fortify second place in the Vodacom United Rugby championship.
In front of a crowd of more than 30,000 spectators, the Stormers clinched their 18th consecutive URC home win to complete a clean sweep of the South African teams – beating their three local rivals home and away.
With the hosts having been on a bye last week, when the Sharks went down against Ulster in Durban, the Stormers made a rusty start, beset with uncharacteristic errors and miscues.
The Sharks took advantage of superior aerial skills early on to secure a six-point lead behind the boot of flyhalf Curwin Bosch, but the Stormers replied with four unanswered tries in the 35 minutes following the start of the second quarter to hold a commanding 26-6 lead at the end of the third quarter.
? How about those hands. #STOvSHA #iamastormer #dhldelivers @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/4bqLHlK3s5
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) March 4, 2023
? Read it like a book. #STOvSHA #iamastormer #dhldelivers @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/uA92IP6qff
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) March 4, 2023
? I get knocked down, but I get up again#STOvSHA #iamastormer #dhldelivers @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/QoH3BEmyvU
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) March 4, 2023
The momentum shifted at the end of the third quarter as the Sharks scored a flurry of three tries punctuated by two yellow cards against Stormers replacement tighthead prop Sazi Sandi and then winger Seabelo Senatla.
Grant Williams ? Seabelo Senatla ?
Only one winner on this occasion, unbelievable from the Cell C Sharks scrummie ?
The isiXhosa commentators are hyped! pic.twitter.com/2Lxm6VId41
— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) March 4, 2023
But the Stormers rallied and regained their composure, winning a scrum penalty in the shadow of the Sharks uprights in the final minute which flyhalf Manie Libbok poked over for a 29-23 victory.
Next up in the URC, the Stormers travel to Leinster to battle the unbeaten log leaders on 24 March, while the Sharks are in Llanelli the following day to take on Scarlets.
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Photo: Twitter/@Stormers